Improvement in game apparatus



H. G. GRIFFIN.

Game Apparatus.

$80,148,881, Patented March 24,1874.

" ivrrnn STATE HE'BER O. GRIFFIN, OF FRANKLIN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE GRIFFIN, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,881, dated March 24, 1874; application filed February 9, 1874. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HEBER O. GRIFFIN, of Franklin, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented a Game for Parlors, Lawns, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my game. Fig.2 is a section through one of the objectballs, and the post on which it is supported. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of a series of pins which may be substituted for the object-balls and their posts) This invention has for its object to furnish an interesting game for. parlors, lawns, &c.; and consists in a series of balls supported on posts, and arranged in the are of a circle, or a series of pins similarly arranged, in combination with two suspended balls, the outer one of which is drawn back by the hand of' the player, so that when released it will strike the inner one and project it forward toward the object-balls. or pins, one of which will be overthrown if a correct aim is taken, the number corresponding thereto being set down in favor of the player. My invention also consists in connecting the obj cot-balls with their supportingposts by cords, which prevent them from being thrown to a distance, and greatly facilitate the operation of replacing them in their proper positions.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a standard, to the upper end of which is hinged a horizontal arm, B, supported by a brace, 11, pivoted thereto, the lower end of the brace fiting into anotch, 5, in the standard A. c d are two balls, which are suspended from the arm B, one in advance of the other, by threads or cords c f, which are led through hooks g h to spools t', by turning which the height of these balls may be adjusted as required. G is a board or platform, upon which are placed a series of hollow posts, It, the bottom of each ore being turned down to form a tenon which fits into a corresponding aperture in the board, which construction admits of the posts being readily removed and replaced. These posts are arranged in the arc of a circle, having its center in a line passing vertically through the center of the inner ball 0 when at rest. At the top of each post is formed a socket for the reception of a ball, Z, which is connected with the post by a thread or cord, m, which is sufficiently slack to allow of the ball being knocked off the post when struck by the inner swinging ball 0, but prevents it from being thrown to a distance or rolling away, as would otherwise be liable to occur, and thus facilitates the operation of replacing it upon the post. On

the board (1, opposite each post, is a number, the highest numbers being at the ends of the arc.

The game is played by drawing back the outer ball at with the hand and then releasing it, so that it will strike the inner ball 0, the force of the blow causing the latter to be projected toward the object-balls l, one of which will be knocked off its post if the ball 0 has been struck by the ball (I with a correct aim, the overthrow of the object-balls at or near the ends of the are being the most difficult, and requiring the greatest skill. The numbers corresponding to the balls knocked off are set down in favor of the players, and the game is won by the person who first obtains the predetermined number-for instance, 200.

For the parlor or indoor game the standard A and arm B are not required, the balls 0 (1 being suspended from the ceiling at points about six inches apart. For the lawn or outdoor game the standard A is intended to be permanently set in the ground, the arm 13 being hinged, as before stated, so that it can be lowered to allow of the cords c f being inserted within the hooks g, which are intended to be about twelve inches apart.

The balls 0 d, with their suspendingcords, together with the posts 70 and their balls Z, are intended to be removed and packed away in a box when not in use, thus avoiding exposure to the weather, the board 0 being allowed to remain upon the grass.

Instead of the balls Z supported upon posts, pins D, Fig. 3, may be substituted therefor,

the pins being set up in the arc of a circle, and threads or cords m, substantially as and for being knocked over by the ball 0.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The Within-described game apparatus, consisting of a series of balls, Z, supported upon posts 7:, arranged in the, arc of a circle, in combination with the two suspended balls 0 (I, to operate together substantially as set forth.

2. The balls I, attached to the posts it by the purpose described.

3. A series of pins, as D, in combination with the balls 0 (1, arranged to operate together substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WVitness my hand February 2, A. D. 1874.

HEBER G. GRIFFIN. 1n presence of- S. E. BICKFORD, I. G. HANCOCK. 

